The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to restrict opposition activity in Abuja by pressuring hotels to deny it meeting venues.
The party made the claim in a statement on Thursday, November 5, 2026, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director. It alleged that some hotels withdrew approvals for the use of their facilities for political meetings. “The NDC has not just been a target of violent attacks by agents of the ruling and ruinous APC,” the statement said, adding that it has become a target of discrimination by hotels in Abuja.
What the NDC Alleges, Hotel by Hotel (Discrimination Means Unfair Treatment of a Person or Group)
The party named Rockview Hotel in Abuja and said it twice cancelled agreements to host NDC meetings at the last minute. The first cancellation was reportedly for the party’s second National Executive Committee meeting in June 2026. On a later request, the hotel reportedly refused and said it was an “order from above”.
The NDC also accused BON Hotel in Wuse of refusing it a venue for a meeting even though, it says, the party met every condition. It said the unveiling of its National Campaign Council was nearly disrupted too, after a hotel agreed to host it and then asked for the payment to be refunded. According to the party, the event went ahead after it refused to withdraw its booking.
What Is Proven and What Is Not (An Allegation Is a Claim That Has Not Yet Been Confirmed)
The NDC’s account names hotels and events, but it does not show who gave the alleged order or how. Reports say the party suggested the hotels may have acted on threats or instructions from unnamed political actors. The words “order from above” are the NDC’s account of what a hotel said, and the hotel has not confirmed it.
We found no reply from the hotels. Hotels can also cancel bookings for reasons unrelated to politics, such as double bookings, security worries or contract disputes. We do not know whether any of those applied here. That is why a response from both hotels, and any records of the bookings, would matter.
The APC’s Earlier Reply to a Similar Claim: “Baseless” and Unspecific
About ten days before this statement, the NDC accused the APC of blocking its access to event venues and billboards. The party’s spokesman said it had paid for four venues. An anonymous APC official dismissed the claim as baseless, saying the NDC had not named a state or ministry involved. L
That reply came before the hotel allegations, and we found none to the new statement. The APC may answer, or may repeat that it controls no hotel. A fair reading is that the claim is serious, the evidence in public is limited, and the party accused has so far denied wrongdoing in a related case.
A Pattern Across Parties and Years: Earlier Complaints About Denied Venues
Venue disputes are not new in Nigerian politics. In February 2019, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cancelled a key presidential rally in Abuja, a week before the election. It said it was denied access to the Old Parade Ground even after making payments and getting official approval. An APC spokesman said the party did not own the venue and could not have denied access to a place it did not control.
The pattern shows that opposition parties have made such complaints against ruling parties before, and ruling parties have rejected them. It does not show who was right in any case. In 2026, similar tensions also appear on the ground. In Delta, for example, the entrance to an NDC campaign venue was reportedly blocked with sand, and its supporters cleared it themselves.
Why Venues Matter in a Campaign: Space, Visibility and Fear (Democratic Space Means Freedom to Speak, Meet and Campaign)
A party needs places to meet. A national executive meeting, a campaign launch or a town hall requires a safe room, power, parking and security. In a capital city, hotels are often the main choice, because they have large halls and can host guests from many states.
If hotels refuse a party, even for innocent reasons, the party loses time and money and may look weak. If the refusals come from fear of political pressure, the damage is greater, since it means businesses are afraid to serve one side. Recent attacks on opposition convoys in several states may also make some venues more careful, though that is only a possible reason, not a finding.
What It Costs the Country: Trust, Neutral Businesses and a Fair Race
A fair election depends on all parties being able to organise. If private businesses are seen as taking sides, voters may doubt the fairness of the whole process. That doubt can reduce turnout and weaken confidence in the result.
The wider cost reaches the economy and the nation’s image. Hotels rely on a reputation for neutrality, and being drawn into politics could hurt their business. Foreign observers also watch how freely parties can meet. A country that wants to be seen as democratic needs its opposition to be able to book a hall.
Settling the Question: Records, Replies and Neutral Booking Rules
The parties and hotels can clear this up with facts. The NDC can publish its booking emails, receipts and cancellation notices. The two hotels can explain why they cancelled or declined, and the APC can say plainly whether it contacted any hotel.
Hotel owners can also publish simple, neutral booking rules, such as deposits, security needs and cancellation terms, and apply them to every party. The Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society groups can monitor complaints during the campaign period. Where the law has been broken, victims can go to court.
A Hall Should Not Be a Political Prize: Our Reading of the Hotel Row
We take no side in this dispute. The NDC has made a claim of political pressure and has not shown who gave any order. The APC has so far rejected earlier claims of this kind, and the hotels have not spoken.
What we ask is plain. The hotels should say why they acted as they did. The APC should say whether it played any role. The NDC should show the records it holds.
In a free election, every party should be able to rent a room on equal terms. If a business is afraid to say yes to one party, citizens should ask why. If the claim is wrong, the party that made it should say so. The public deserves to hear both answers.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
